Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has thrown his weight behind Representative Jim Jordan’s bid for the House Speaker position, supported by Fox News host Sean Hannity’s ongoing pressure on GOP members. Bannon, who played a key role in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, backed Jordan after an email allegedly sent by Hannity’s team urged Republicans to endorse Jordan for the leadership role.
The email, shared on social media by Axios reporter Juliegrace Brufke, questioned why some Republicans were not supporting Jordan, the GOP’s nominee after Rep. Steve Scalise withdrew from the race. The email pointed to the Israel-Hamas conflict, citing Jordan’s strong support for Trump and Israel as reasons for his endorsement.
Responding on Gettr, a platform popular among Trump supporters, Bannon stated, “That’s The Plan: Public Votes to Break The Cartel.” Bannon’s support for Jordan aligns with his criticism of the former Speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was recently ousted by his own party. Bannon accused McCarthy of weakness and corruption, emphasizing his failure to defend Trump during critical moments.
Trump himself has endorsed Jordan, praising him as a “fighter” and a “patriot.” However, Jordan faces challenges within his own party. Some moderate Republicans have reservations about his candidacy. Jordan’s controversial past, including accusations of ignoring sexual abuse allegations during his tenure as an Ohio State University wrestling coach, has further fueled debates within the GOP.
Jordan leads the House Freedom Caucus, a group of staunch conservatives often at odds with the party establishment. Amid this internal strife, some Republicans have suggested Representative Austin Scott of Georgia as a potential compromise candidate. Scott, a member of the Republican Study Committee, a more moderate conservative group, lost to Jordan in the GOP conference vote (124-81). He could appeal to both conservative factions of the party.
The House is expected to hold a floor vote for the speaker role next week, unless Jordan, Scott, or another candidate emerges. With the House leaderless since October 3, the upcoming vote carries significant weight for the GOP and the future direction of the House of Representatives.
